Loosen Up, Boston?

Risqué movies are no longer “banned in Boston,” but proposals for new buildings, liquor licenses, and late operating hours often meet with great skepticism in many neighborhoods. To outsiders — and many local business owners and developers — efforts to protect neighborhoods come across as NIMBYism, nannyism, and resistance to a more active nightlife.

How can we work together to find the right balance between maintaining Boston’s character while enhancing urban vitality and giving new night life venues and recreations a chance to take root?

We have invited thought leaders, entrepreneurs, residents, and civic leaders to represent a diversity of perspectives to ensure a well-rounded conversation. Moderated by Peter Canellos, the Editor of The Boston Globe’s Editorial Page, the discussion will yield a deeper understanding of how we, as the Commonwealth’s citizens, could address this issue.

The Boston Globe’s ‘Building a Better Commonwealth’ is an initiative designed to convene experts and innovators to engage in thought-provoking dialogue about issues and opportunities that exist in Massachusetts. Through an ongoing series of dynamic events and constructive conversations on digital, mobile and social media platforms, the Globe invites participants and audience members to share fresh ideas and recommendations for making MA a better place to live and work. MORE